Tape applicator



L.. M. VARGA TAPE APPLICATOR Oct. 15, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 2, 1966 6 a7 a BY y m Wm J 5 1 ATTORYS United States Patent 3,406,084 TAPE APPLECATOR Leroy M. Varga, Dover, N.J., assignor to Stapling Machine Co., Rockaway, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 591,636 6 Claims. (Cl. 156-522) This invention relates to apparatus for applying adhesive tape to the surface of a package being moved relatively to the apparatus.

The invention is particularly useful in connection with packaging machinery through which materials to be packaged are mechanically transported. The invention provides a simple and inexpensive yet thoroughly practical apparatus by which gummed tape can be dispensed and applied to one or more surfaces of each of the moving packages and includes means for automatically applying the leading end of the tape in desired relation to the leading end of each package and for automatically severing the tape at such time that its trailing end falls in desired relation to the trailing end of the package. The apparatus also includes a reset mechanism by which a predetermined length of tape at the leading cut end of the tape may be dispensed to the next package without the necessity of pulling additional tape from the supply roll, this length of tape being suflicient that after it has been applied to the package, its adhesion to the package will impose on the tape sufficient tension to overcome the unrolling resistance of the supply roll and insure the continuation of tape feeding.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of an illustrative apparatus embodying features of the invention, with the parts shown in tape-feeding position;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 with the parts shown in tape-cutting and resetting position;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are fragmentary vertical sectional views taken generally along the lines 33 and 44, respectively, in FIGURE 1.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the apparatus includes a tape supply means, such as a roll of tape R which is rotatably supported on a horizontal table 10, with its central spool engaged on an upwardly projecting spindle (not shown). The tape T which is unwound from the outside of roll R extends past a guide roller 12 which is rotatably mounted in position to engage the outer (ungummed) surface of the tape and fix the transverse position of the tape at that point.

The tape T extends from the guide roller 12 to an applicator roller 14 which is rotatably mounted on a vertical shaft 16 whose upper and lower ends are supported near the ends of a pair of vertically spaced legs 18 of a support assembly, generally designated 20. The lower leg 18 of the assembly, which appears only in FIG- URE 4, has the same shape as the upper leg shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and is positioned directly beneath it. The support assembly 20 also includes another pair of vertically spaced legs 22 extending perpendicularly to the legs 18 and having attached to their ends a pair of brackets 24 which are rotatably supported on a vertical shaft 26 extending between the table and an upper horizontal plate 28 spaced above the plate 10 by a block 29. Thus, the entire support assembly is mounted for pivotal movement about the shaft 26 to swing the applicator roller 14 between a tape-applying position, in which it engages the outer surface of the tape T to press it against the surface of the package P, as shown in FIG- URE l, and a retracted or reset position at which it is spaced from the package P, as shown in FIGURE 2.

The support assembly is urged to and normally maintained in the tape-applying position by a coil spring 30 which is tensioned between a pin 32 projecting upwardly from a vertical shaft 34 extending between the outer ends of the legs 18 and a pin 32 projecting upwardly from a fixed vertical post 36. The movement of the support assembly by the spring 30 is limited by engagement of the head of a stop screw 37 adjustably threaded through the upper leg 22 with the adjacent edge of the post 36. The support assembly is moved to the retracted position, as shown in FIGURE 2, against the resistance of the spring 30, by means of a solenoid 38 whose armature 40 is connected by a pin 42 and a link 44 to the center of the vertical shaft 34.

Adjustably secured on the post 36 by screws 46 is a cutting knife 48 whose cutting edge extends inwardly toward the tape T in the area between the applicator roller 14 and the package P. The cutting knife 48 is so positioned that, when the support assembly is in the tapeapplying position, as shown in FIGURE 1, the cutting knife is clear of the tape T, and when the support assembly is moved to the retracted position, as shown in FIG- URE 2, and as the package P continues to move through the machine, the tape T is pulled more nearly straight, as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 2, so that it moves against the edge of the cutting knife 48 and is cut thereby.

The gummed surface of the portion of the tape T between the supply roll R and the applicator roller 14, is engaged by a reset roller 50 which is rotatably mounted on a vertical shaft 52 extending between reset arms 54 which are pivotally mounted on the vertical shaft 16. The reset arms are rigidly interconnected by a vertical spacer bar 56 having nuts threaded onto its projecting ends, and are urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG- URES 1 and 2, by coil springs 58 (see also FIGURE 4) which are tensioned between pins 60 projecting from the reset arms 54 and the aforementioned pin 32 (FIGURES 1 and 2) as Well as a similar pin (not shown) on the lower leg 18 of the support assembly 20.

The springs 58 are relatively weak, as compared to the spring 30, so that, when the tape T is under the tension imposed by the movement of the package P and the unwinding resistance of the supply roll R, the reset roller 50 is pulled around to the normal tape-feeding position shown in FIGURE 1 at which the tape T extends in a substantially straight line from the supply roll R to the point of tangency of the applicator roller 14. However, when the tape is cut, removing the tension thereon, the reset roller is pulled by the springs 58 in a clockwise direction, to the reset position shown in FIGURE 2, at which the spacer bar 56 engages the head of a stop screw 62 extending through the end of the arm 22 and adjustably secured thereto 'by nuts 64. This movement of the reset roller 50 bends the tape T partially around the periphery of the applicator roller 14, as shown in full lines in FIGURE 2, retracting the leading cut end T of the tape back to a point adjacent the portion of the applicator roller R which is tangential to the surface of the package P when the applicator roller is in tape-applying position. Thus the tape is reset with its leading edge in position to be pressed against the surface of the package when the applicator roller is returned to tape-applying position.

To hold the end of the tape against the surface of the applicator roller 14 and insure its proper placement against the surface of the package, a pair of retaining rollers 66 are rotatably supported on studs 68 at the end of the arms 18 in position to engage the gummed surface of the tape near its cut end T, when the tape is retracted to the reset position. As shown in FIGURE 4, these retaining rollers 66 are spaced to clear the upper and lower surfaces of the package P.

When the leading end of the tape is pressed against the moving package it adheres to the package and moves with it, easily pulling the length of tape which has been bent around the applicator roller 14 by the reset roller 50 and moving the reset roller back to its normal tapefeeding position against the light resistance of the springs 58. When the reset roller reaches this position, further pulling of the tape requires unwinding of the supply roll R. However, the length of tape tfed during the movement of the reset roller from its reset position back to its normal tape-feeding position is sufiicient that the adherence of this length of tape to the surface of the package will overcome the unwinding resistance of the supply roll without pulling the tape off the package, so that the continuation of tape feeding is insured.

The counterclockwise movement of the reset arms 54 against the resistance of the springs 58 is limited by a stop rod 69 which extends above the upper leg 18 and engages the adjacent edge of the upper reset arm 54 when the reset arms are in tape-feeding position, as shown in FIGURE 1. This prevents the inertia of the reset :arms 54 and roller '46 from carrying them into the path of the package P when the spring 30 returns the support assembly to tape-feeding position. This rod 69 may eX- tend downwardly to the lower reset arm 54 and serve to retain the cut end of the tape adjacent the surface of the applicator roller where the tape is too narrow to be engaged by the retaining rollers 66.

The package P may be conveyed through the machine by any conventional means (not shown), such as motor driven chains or belts. FIGURES 1 and 3 show an optional means for guiding the adjacent edge of the packages past the tape applicator. The particular mechanism illustrated is especially adapted to apply tape to the edge of a stack of sheet material such as wallboard or plywood, for example, as best seen in FIGURE 3, a stack of four such sheets. The edge of the stack is engaged and guided by a side guide roller 70 rotatably supported On :a vertical shaft 72 which is cantilevered upwardly from the table 10.

The edges of the sheets in the stack rest on a lower guide roller 74 rotatably supported on a stud 76 projecting horizontally from an angle bracket 73 secured to the table 10. Arranged to engage and press downwardly upon the upper surface of the stack directly above the lower guide roller 74 is an upper guide roller 80 which is rotatably mounted on -a stud 82 projecting from one end of an angle arm 84 whose other end is supported for vertical movement in a reduced portion 72a at the upper end of the shaft 72 and which is pressed downwardly by coil springs 88 compressed between the upper surface of the angle arm and the lower surface of a spring plate 90 rigidly held against a shoulder 72b on the shaft 72 by the nut 92 threaded on its upper end 720. Thus the edges of the sheets in the stack are squeezed together by the rollers 74 and 84 immediately prior to the application of the tape T to the edge of the stack.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the width of the tape T may exceed the thickness of the package, leaving upper and lower marginal portions of the tape projecting above and below the package. As the package continues to move through the machine, these marginal portions of the tape are 'folded around the upper and lower corners of the edge of the package by flared guide members (not shown) and then are pressed against the top and bottom of the package either by rollers or by spring-loaded presser members.

If desired, tape may be simultaneously applied to both longitudinal edges of the package by similar applicator means at opposite sides of the machine. Then, in another stage of the machine, the package may be conveyed in a direction perpendicular to its original path and tape ap plied to the two ends of the package by similar applicator mechanisms at opposite sides of the second stage.

The energization of the solenoid 38 is controlled by adjustably positioned switches arranged to be actuated by the packages as they move through the machine. These switches may be so positioned that the solenoid is deenergized to initiate the feeding of the tape at such time that its leading edge falls in any desired relation to the leading end of the package, for example, so that the two exactly coincide, as shown in FIGURE 1. Likewise, the solenoid may be energized to cause the cutting of the tape T at such time that its trailing end falls in any desired relation to the trailing end of the package. For example, if desired the tape can be caused to overhang the side of the package at each end, and the projecting portions of the tape bent around the ends of the package by suitable tape-bending and pressing elements past which the package moves in its subsequent passage through the machine.

It will thus be appreciated that the invention provides a simple and practical means by which the aforementioned and other apparent desirable objectives are achieved. However, it should be emphasized that the particular embodiment which is described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings is intended as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention rather than as restrictive of its scope, which is limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for applying adhesive tape to a package being moved relatively thereto, said mechanism comprising a support member, tape supply means spaced from one side of said package, an applicator roller rotatably mounted on said support member in such position as to engage the outer surface of a length of tape extending from said tape supply means to the surface of said package, said support member being mounted for movement between a tape-applying position at which said applicator roller engages the outer surface of said tape and presses the gummed surface of said tape against the surface of said package and a retracted position at which said applicator roller is spaced from said package, allowing the movement of said package to pull said length of tape straighter, means for moving said support member between said tape-applying position and said retracted position, .a reset arm, a reset roller rotatably mounted on said reset arm in position to engage the gummed surface of said tape between said applicator roller and said tape supply means, said reset arm being mounted for movement of said reset roller transversely of said length of tape, yieldable means urging said reset arm and reset roller to move in such direction as to bend said tape, the pressure of said yieldable means being overcome by the tension imposed on said tape as said package moves relative to said mechanism thus more nearly straightening said tape and allowing feeding of a short length of tape to said package without removal of tape from said supply means, a cutting knife mounted in such position as to engage the outer surface of the portion of said length of tape between said applicator roller and said package and out said tape when said support member is moved to said retracted position and to be clear of said tape when said support member is in said tape-applying position.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said support member is pivotally mounted and the means for moving said support member includes a spring urging said support member to swing toward said tape-applying position and power means acting against said spring to move said support member to said retracted position.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said power means is controlled by switches actuated by the ends of the packages.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said reset arm is pivotally mounted on said support member and said yieldable means comprises a second, weaker spring engaging said reset arm and said support member.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spacing of said cutting knife from the portion of said applicator roller which is tangential to said package is approximately equal to the distance by which the leading cut end of said tape is pulled backwardly by said reset roller in bending said tape around said applicator roller so that after said tape has thus been pulled backwardly, said leading cut end is approximately at such tangential position in position to be applied to said package when said support member moves back to said tape-applying position.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the length of tape which is initially fed to said package by movement of said reset roller against said yieldable means is 5 feeding of tape therefrom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,652,166 9/1953 Johnson 156-522 10 3,350,255 10/1967 Twigg 156522XR BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ADHESIVE TAPE TO A PACKAGE BEING MOVED RELATIVELY THERETO, SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING A SUPPORT MEMBER, TAPE SUPPLY MEANS SPACED FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID PACKAGE, AN APPLICATOR ROLLER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER IN SUCH POSITION AS TO ENGAGE THE OUTER SURFACE OF A LENGTH OF TAPE EXTENDING FROM SAID TAPE SUPPLY MEANS TO THE SURFACE OF SAID PACKAGE, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BEING MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A TAPE-APPLYING POSITION AT WHICH SAID APPLICATOR ROLLER ENGAGES THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID TAPE AND PRESSES THE GUMMED SURFACE OF SAID TAPE AGAINST THE SURFACE OF SAID PACKAGE AND A RETRACTED POSITION AT WHICH SAID APPLICATOR ROLLER IS SPACED FROM SAID PACKAGE, ALLOWING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID PACKAGE TO PULL SAID LENGTH OF TAPE STRAIGHTER, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BETWEEN SAID TAPE-APPLYING POSITION AND SAID RETRACTED POSITION, A RESET ARM, A RESET ROLLER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID RESET ARM IN POSITION TO ENGAGE THE GUMMED SURFACE OF SAID TAPE BETWEEN SAID APPLICATOR ROLLER AND SAID TAPE SUPPLY MEANS, SAID RESET ARM BEING MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID RESET ROLLER INWARDLY OF SAID LENGTH OF TAPE, YIELDABLE MEANS URGING SAID RESET ARM AND RESET ROLLER TO MOVE IN SUCH DIRECTION AS TO BEND SAID TAPE, THE PRESSURE OF SAID YIELDABLE MEANS BEING OVERCOME BY THE TENSION IMPOSED ON SAID TAPE AS TAPE AS SAID PACKAGE MOVES RELA- 